Trendspotting Detroit - Reinventing Convenience

We've been out and about in our own backyard, doing some trendspotting in the Metro Detroit area.  There's such a wealth of interesting and innovative businesses, shops and services that this project is going to take us quite awhile!  One we wanted to share with you is a simple concept - reinventing the corner convenience store.

The General Store in Royal Oak offers a new take on what we Michiganders often call the 'party store'.  By thinking creatively about paint and color, offering some gourmet local items and paying close attention to their brand, this small store has a lot to offer.  Fresh sandwiches and fruit, a streetside dining area, funky lighting, a great wine selection, hardwood floors and an exposed brick wall offer a 'boutique' feeling - even when you're just picking up a Coke and some chips!

Trendspotting Chicago - All Saints

An eclectic mix of old and modern, rugged and chic, industrial and sleek - All Saints in Chicago is a oasis of retail trends to watch!  We loved the collection of vintage Singer sewing machines sharing the message of handcraft and quality in the front window of this unique store in Chicago located on Michigan Ave.  The  rugged, yet polished, style of the clothing, shoes and accessories tell a story of durability and fashion all in a very unique setting with displays made of industrial materials, gears, wheels and machinery.  All juxtaposed with the sleek, high tech feel of iPads placed for customer interaction and modern screens playing intriguing videos.  If you're looking to be inspired by cool displays and inventive retail spaces, All Saints is a must see when you're in town!

Trendspotting Paris - We're in a good 'mood'!

Today's Lunch & Learn e-newsletter (sign up here) is all about "The 'M' Factor" and how Mood really matters in product design, advertising, retail and social campaigns.  Nothing sums this up better than our recent trip to Paris to trendspot in this wonderful city and attend the Maison et Objet show.  Here's a collection of images our trendspotting team captured that really brightened my mood!  Enjoy...

Fun with color - Smile! (@ Merci)

TV embedded into creative steamer trunks - Happiness! (@ Renault)

Help me with packing for a long flight? Thankful!  (@ Merci)

This??  Well, this is just so cool that we had to include it!  (@ Renault)

Sustainable & practical reuse - Appreciative! (@ Merci)

Halloween 2011 Design Trends - Victorian Seance

There are always lots of thrills and chills in our Halloween Design Trend Forecasts... 2011 is no exception! Check out the very spooky "Victorian Seance" trend from this year's report. To learn more about purchasing this report or the 2012 edition that is hot off the presses, please contact me for more details. Happy Halloween!

Halloween Trends 2011 Design Forecast

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Color Caffeine - Water Hyacinth

A great palette to segue from summer and into early fall this collection of water hyacinth hues makes us think of crisp pears, tart apples and early chrysanthemums as they begin to show their blooms in anticipation of the cooler weather.  We love the weathered, mineralized and aged effects you can create with this color as a finish treatment, glaze or even a stain.  You can find more of our famous Color Caffeine palette collections right here on the blog.